Trump’s National Guard Deployment Amid Rising DC Crime Concerns
Former Capitol Police Chief Stephen Sund recently spoke with Breitbart News, highlighting that Washington, D.C. has a murder rate “five to six times higher than other major U.S. cities.” In response to increasing crime, President Donald Trump announced plans on Monday to send around 800 National Guard troops to the city and suggested oversight of local police stations.
The announcement has stirred significant media chatter, with some critics arguing that concerns over crime are often exaggerated narratives about American cities. Conversely, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough expressed that there might be some truth to the idea of a crisis in the capital.
Sund praised Trump as someone focused on details. He pointed out that it’s common for Trump to notice things on the street, like broken streetlights or graffiti, while being driven. This attentiveness says a lot about his approach, especially given the vastness of the territory he oversees.
Meanwhile, top Democrats took to social media expressing outrage over Trump’s crime plan, labeling him a “massive liar.” Sund speculated that the federal government might organize resources to address gang-related issues in the city, referencing a previously successful initiative that effectively lowered the murder rate in the early ’90s. Back then, the city recorded around 170 murders, while current statistics show a troubling increase to 274 deaths in 2023.
While rising crime has drawn attention from various commentators, many Democrats insist that current levels reflect a 30-year low in crime rates. Trump himself noted that crime might be showing a temporary drop, but when compared to figures from about 2010, the current situation remains dire.
Others in law enforcement share concerns as well. Gillian Snyder, a former NYPD officer, pointed out on Fox News Digital that although the odds of becoming a victim of crime might be lower, those who do fall victim face a higher likelihood of fatality.
Snyder referred to a report from the Criminal Justice Council, which analyzed violent crime data across 17 major cities from 2018 to 2024. Washington, D.C. exhibited an especially alarming trend, with lethal violence increasing by 38% from 2018 to 2024.
